Salem police investigating blast as hate crime

Salem police say they are investigating an explosive put into a news box housing an LGBT newspaper and detonating it as a hate crime, according to Wicked Local’s news partner WCVB .

Now the search is on for the group of about seven people who placed the explosive inside the box early Tuesday morning.

The explosion, which was reported just after 1 a.m., was heard about a mile away, prompting several residents to call 911.

“We are all flabbergasted,” Salem resident Sara Spilde told WCVB. “I have no idea who would do such a thing.”

Shocked locals said Salem is a gay-friendly community, and the newspaper isn’t backing down.

“I am sad and upset about this incident, which based on the video surveillance footage appears to be targeting the Rainbow Times, an LGBT friendly news outlet,” Salem Mayor Kim Driscoll said.

Driscoll said the Salem community prides itself as a community that has worked hard to be a place of progress and unity.

“This cowardly attack runs contrary, not simply to that work, but to what it means to be a city whose very name means peace,” Driscoll said.

She said the city would provide police with resources it needs to bring those responsible to justice.

“We are a community that supports each other as neighbors and, even in the face of violence and hatred, today should be no different,” Driscoll said. “Fear and hate may cloud the hearts of those committing this act, but it will never, ever characterize this community. Salem is the City of Peace.”

The publisher of The Rainbow Times said new boxes will be set up across Salem.

“We are going to stay here,” publisher Gricel Ocasio said. “This gives us more incentive to go ahead and promote not only the message of the paper, but the inclusion that this beautiful city is all about.”

This isn’t the first time The Rainbow Times has been a target.

Someone vandalized the boxes in June, which is Gay Pride Month, and police said they investigated similar incidents to the boxes before that.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call Salem police Detective Kevin St. Pierre at 978-744-0171 ext. 197.